Neither rain, wind, a Nor’ Easter or last minute changes could keep more than 100 friends, relatives and other Mater Dei alumni from participating in the 19th annual Mater Dei High School Mass of Remembrance at St Mary Other of God Church in New Monmouth Saturday.
In addition to all parts of New Jersey, they came from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, all expressing thanks and appreciation to Mari Campanella Kovach and her team, especially Cathy Daniels, Class of 1979 and Tom Dooley, Class of 1965, for modifying plans and coordinating last minute changes to accommodate other unusual last minute events.
One of the last minute changes was including the Reverend Stanley “Stas” Lukaszewski in their prayers and gratitude. Father Stas, a former associate pastor at St. Mary’s, who was scheduled to say the mass of remembrance, bowed to the suggestions of the committee by not traveling from his home in south Jersey during the storm and weather forecasts of even worse weather, wind and flooding.
With Deacon Marty McMahon serving as the main celebrant of the Communion Service, Chris Begley, class of 1978 did the First Reading, and Jim Keating, Class of 1976 the second reading, with Deacon Marty reading the Gospel . Begley also lead the Prayer of the faithful. Diane Testa was organist for the program and her daughter, Lisa Testa was cantor.
The ceremony also included a reading of the Necrology, which included 589 names and honored in the service, together with all those alumni who are deceased but not known by the Committee.
The Necrology cited 136 deceased from administration, faculty and boosters along with 453 graduates of the high school for a total of 589 remembered by name during the mass for all deceased Mater Dei affiliates. It included priests, administrators, faculty, staff and boosters who have been a part of Mater Dei through the years, leading with Reverend Monsignor Robert T. Bulman, pastor of St Mary’s for many years and founder of the high school.
Also fondly remembered were Monsignor Michael J. Walsh, also a former pastor and a Director of the high school. Monsignor Walsh died earlier this month; the Committee noted that “as pastor of St. Mary’s and director of Mater Dei, Father Mike strengthened our community of faith through his own steadfast example, nurturing students, supporting faculty and staff and welcoming alumni. He embodied kindness and compassion in all he did. Proud of his Irish heritage and devoted to the Blessed Mother, Father Mike was a long time supporter of this annual Mass and served as its celebrant on several occasion. May he rest in peace of God and remain forever in our hearts.”
In honor of Monsignor Walsh, and remembering his Irish heritage and pride, the medication hymn for the service was “Our Lady of Knock, honoring the Irish title for the Blessed Mother.
Administrators also prayed for during the service were the founding principal, Mother Bede Loob, OSF, and later principals Father William Lynch, S.J. , John V. Lonergan, Sister Mary Hugh Brady, Frank Poleski and longtime assistant principal Frank Outwater.
Faculty, Staff and Boosters remembered included Thomas C. Murray the originator of the Memorial Mass at St. Mary’s, and the history teacher who asked Campanella Kovach to continue it each year., Patrick Hoey, who died in Sept. 11, 2011, and the Reverend James Conover, Michael McAndres and Ann Zarella, who all died within the past year.
Alumni who have died were read with the citation of the year they graduated from Mater Dei, beginning with the first graduates in 1965 through 2015, when the school closed.
The Mater Dei school has now been demolished, and the property sold to the township of Middletown, where it will forever remain open and recreational space for all Middletown and area residents.
The Necrology was read by Steve McCarthy, class of 1974, Campanella-Kovach, Dr. Ken Dugan, class of 1965, Steve Muscarella, Class of 1968, Ellen Poole, class of 1972, Muriel Smith, mother of Kathy Smith Palamara, class of 1974, Jim Keating, class of 1976, Cathy Daniels, class of 1979, Pat Ryan, class of 1982, and Dooley, class of 1968.
The list included graduates who have died in the past year including Joseph Granito, Class of 1965, Ronald Etzkom, Michael Hanley and Judy Schnoor Hencoski, class of 1966, Gene Devaney and Kathleen Thompson Poracky, class of 1970, Juania Burton Pizzi, Class of 1972, Maureen Quinn, 1973, James Cochenour, 1976, Marcy Crowed, class of 1977, Jim Rasmussen and Keith “smitty” Smith, class of 1979, Sean Slattery, 1980 Bill Cusick, 1985, Kim Anderson Lechner and Dan Golding, class of 1987, Shannon Hodley, 1989, Peter Palmisano, 1993, and Rory Chirmsid, 2008.
Daniels, Ellen Oikem class of 1972 and Campanella Kovach headed the hospitality Committee for the event and the class of 1975 donated towards the support of the service as well as the refreshments served during a social hour in the church foyer following the ceremony.
Pending final permission from the pastor of St. Mary’s, the Reverend Jeff Kegley, the Mass of Remembrance for 2027 will be September 25, 2027, the last Saturday in September. Kovach also pointed out that it was founder Murray’s desire to always hold it on the same weekend each year to build consistency.
Anyone having names they wish to add to the Necrology for future ceremonies should send the information to deckhill@comcast.net.
Kovach also noted that Daniels had set up a Facebook page which enabled the planners to contact people when last minute changes were necessary because of this year’s weather. The team, ever planning for the future, now is starting an e-mail list so that in the event of another incident such as weather which could make it necessary to cancel the event,, interested persons cold be contacted directly., in addition to the Facebook page Cathy Daniels sets up each year. Interested persons should send their information to deckhill@comcast.net
